Rooting for our Karlin in this year’s National Youth Music competition

Gauteng has the second most number of young musicians to compete in this year’s National Youth Music Competition (NYMC) and 19-year-old pianist from Krugersdorp, Karlin Kock, is one of them.

Scheduled to run from December 6 to 11 at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow, Cape Town, a new record number of 27 upcoming young musicians have been selected to compete over four rounds for the coveted title, the R155 000 cash, and gold, silver and bronze medals.

This is the biggest number of contestants ever in the contest’s 37-year history. They were selected from a record number of 45 entrants from across the country. It is the only South African music competition where the six finalists get the opportunity to perform with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO). Last year’s competition had to be cancelled due to the global Covid pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. The NYMC has been described as one of the most gruelling music competitions for young musicians between the ages of 14 and 19 in South Africa. It commands stamina, technical excellence and strong interpretative skills. The contestants will play an extensive repertoire of works from different style periods.

Karlin, studying at the University of the Free State hails from Krugersdorp. This is her first time competing in the NYMC. Her great grandmother and grandmother were music teachers and her mother still is. With this rich heritage in music, Karlin’s mother saw that her baby daughter is showing an interest in music at age five. The following year she enrolled the six-year-old for music lessons with Karin Scholtz. Currently, she is tutored by Anneke Lamont.

She has two siblings who are also playing music. Her brother plays the piano, guitar and cello, while her sister is playing the piano.

According to the upcoming star, she practises the piano for two to three hours per day. She never experiences any resistance from the family in the times that she is rehearsing at home.

They enjoy hearing me play,” she smiled.

In her free time, the young pianist enjoys doing volunteer work and community service with her church.

Karlin has lots of favourite composers but Johann Sebastian Bach has a special place in her heart. “His works are extremely complex and yet so simple if you know what you are doing (just like working with a woman). I enjoy playing his works a lot,” she exudes.

She entered the NYMC “… as the competition is an excellent way to get experience in playing in front of people and sharing music with others”. It gives her something to work towards during the year. It also helps her to improve her knowledge about the pieces that she needs to prepare.

On completion of her studies, she plans to become an accompanist and music teacher.

The driving force in her life comes from a Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 12:10: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”